Measles Outbreak in Orange CountyMMR Vaccine Highly Recommended

(Santa Ana) – Orange County has twenty-one confirmed cases of measles in 2014, the most reported by any county in California. The Health Care Agency expects that the measles outbreak will continue to spread, and reminds the public that the best way to prevent the measles is by getting vaccinated.

Five of the 21 cases have been children, none of them immunized. Five have been healthcare workers who became ill after exposure to measles cases. The Health Care Agency will take every precaution to prevent outbreaks in health care facilities, schools and daycare facilities. Unimmunized children, school and daycare staff, and healthcare workers who are exposed to the measles will be instructed to stay home for up to 21 days after exposure. Continue reading→

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed seven cases of measles in Orange County in 2014, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. The most recent cases spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious.

“We expect to see additional measles cases in Orange County, increasing the likelihood that you and your family may be exposed to the disease,” said Dr. Eric Handler, Public Health Officer for the County of Orange. “These new measles cases underscore the importance of making sure that you and your families are up to date with the MMR vaccination.”

Potential Public Exposure to MeaslesFive Confirmed Measles Cases in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed five cases of measles in Orange County in the last nine weeks, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. These cases raise the possibility that Orange County residents may be exposed to measles. The most recent case spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious.

Staff at the Health Care Agency has been working with these locations to contact people who may have had a prolonged exposure to this case. The risk of developing infection after brief encounters with persons with measles is low, but as a precaution, people who were in the below locations around the same time as the individual with measles should: Continue reading→

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed four cases of measles in Orange County in the last seven weeks, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. These cases raise the possibility that Orange County residents may be exposed to measles. The most recent case spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious. Continue reading→

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed three cases of measles in Orange County in the last six weeks. These cases are unrelated and thus far have not resulted in transmission to other Orange County residents. In the last five years, Orange County has only seen zero to one case of the measles per year. The Orange County Health Care Agency reminds people that the way to protect yourself and your family against the measles is to get the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Continue reading→